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Anonymous 10/04/2006Great show. Not too long but funny and lots of great golf tips which are top-notch and from professionals. I like the husband/wife cameraderie of the hosts too.
Anonymous 00/00/0000Funny and informative. I have listened to the last few podcasts and find myself laughing along with this husband and wife team in spite of myself.
Keep up the good work.
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Episodes
- Sorenstam career cut short, Wie redux. Will Thanksgiving pay off for Mickelson? Also, Kodak's $1 million challenge, play automatic golf
(10mb)
Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:17:43 -0600 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)
Click here to listen.
Annika Sorenstam?s missed cut at the $1 million dollar ADT Championship resembles the 2008 LPGA season as a whole. As Sorenstam limped through the early rounds, a noticeably hurt Bivens on crutches did the same as she gave her ?State of the Tour? address. Both were frustrated by their final tallies. Sorenstam definitely wanted to ace the finals and Bivens wanted to let everyone know that under her jurisdiction the LPGA was just dandy but neither could muster up the drive needed to do so.
The new season will show a loss of three tournaments (to 31) as well as a drop of over $5 million in prize money. To further the bad news, this year?s ending was lackluster at best as top golfers Sorenstam, Ochoa and Pressel all packed their bags early leaving the Asians to save face at the event.
To add insult to injury and add to the ineptitude of the LPGA Tour, Annika was randomly selected after her last event for a drug test after already passing one given to her last month. "Pathetic" mentioned Sorenstam?s fiancé, Mike McGee. "I don?t know what they?re trying to prove."
Wonder Woman to the rescue! Now would be a great time for Michelle Wie to ace Q-School and revive the Tour! Bivens would be grateful for any light at the end of this tunnel.
Also in the spirit of giving thanks for no more Euro Tour events, Phil Mickelson will be back in the States playing in the LG Skins Game this weekend. No trophies, no standings, means no pressure and that Mickelson can let loose, showing fans why he is rated the number three player on the PGA Tour.
We will discuss all of the above news on this week?s Golf for Beginners broadcast as well as offer up how to play golf on automatic and how to hit your woods like a pro. The $1 million Kodak Challenge is also mentioned as we further talk about the company?s switch of funding from NASCAR to the PGA Tour.
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by St. Andrews Golf Tours, 800-348-4902.
Photo Credit: © Editor?s Blog, Golf Digest, Photo Credit: © Jamd.com
- Euro Tour ships Mickelson back to the US. Are Mickelson, Woods Olympic hopefuls? Rhythm and Rules (11mb)
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:26:04 -0600 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
Phil Mickelson has dropped out of the 2009 Race to Dubai because he said he doesn?t have enough time to dedicate to both the European and PGA Tours. With second-rate performances at the two opening Euro Tour events in China, Mickelson may have felt his chances of making an upward move were slipping deciding instead to get out early and ?save face?.
Add Sergio Garcia?s leapfrog into second place in the World Rankings and that Tiger Woods may return for the 2009 PGA Tour season and Mickelson is probably more concerned with defending interests here at home than the struggle to climb atop yet another ranking system.
One slip at a time Phil, although Mickelson insisted, "I really don't think about the world rankings right now very much."
Go ahead Phil. Keep asserting that you?re not losing any sleep over your drop in the World Rankings and I?ll bet that, eventually, you?ll start believing it too!
As Barry and I watched the final round of the Barclays Singapore Open, it appeared evident with every failed putt that Mickelson would be relieved to be heading back to the States on his new fourteen passenger Gulfstream conveyance. Life can be really tough on the Tour!
Add to the above an article in the latest Callaway Golf Magazine written by the extremely outspoken Johnny Miller which mentioned, "Who wouldn?t relish the prospect of Tiger and Phil battling it out for individual gold at the Olympics" and the fuel was flamed for this week?s Golf for Beginners broadcast!
Whereas Miller states that golf has gone global, he also mentions that the two men fighting for gold honors would be two Americans?so where then has golf gone global? Also, if golf is approved as a summer sport, it would not be introduced until the 2016 games. Woods would be about forty years old and Mickelson would be about ready to join the Champions Tour. Now, where?s the fun in that, I ask?
Also, with guys like Phil and Tiger going after "gold" every week in the form of million dollar payouts and glimmery FedEx type trophies, an Olympic event would seem more like just another stop on the PGA Tour. Instead, listen to what Golf for Beginners has in mind if golf becomes an Olympic sport!
In addition, we talk about Lorena Ochoa?s belief that a lack of rhythm affected her quest to win her own Invitational. Rules taken from the glossy and easy-to-use Golf Rules Quick Reference Guide about embedded and damaged golf balls, are also featured.
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by San Diego Golf Central, 866-825-4094.
Photo Credit: © BBC Sport - Barack Obama swings left on the course. Kodak waves checkered flag for PGA Tour. We have the fix for your mental game. (11mb)
Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:21:49 -0600 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
It has been said that you can tell a good deal about a person by the way he/she plays golf, and former Presidents are no exception. Which of our Commanders, for example, exemplified the integrity of the game and which men have bent the rules in their favor?
In his book, "First Off the Tee: Presidential Hackers, Duffers and Cheaters From Taft to Bush", Don Van Natta Jr's neatly organized categories helped define Presidential proclivities noting that more than just a few in the top job have "improved their lie" during a round.
Both Clinton and Nixon made it into the book's "Hail to the Cheats" category with number forty-two often giving himself "billigans" and "Tricky Dick" often not counting wayward shots. FDR, Ford and Kennedy, on the other hand, were considered "purists."
So, where does that leave President-elect Barack Obama?
According to a golf swing analysis by Top 100 Teacher Brady Riggs, Obama is a good study of preparedness however the outcome lacks aggressiveness, pushing his shots far left. Perhaps that makes the future president just like the "Average Joe"?
The category which President-elect Obama falls into will eventually become apparent as the story unfolds.
In addition to our assessment of Mr. Obama, we also discuss techniques for positive thinking from William Oliver's new book, the "Law of Focus for Golfers". A few fixes from his ebook, "Master the Mental Game of Golf" are also mentioned.
Kodak, the EWGA and a notable distinction for Turning Stone Resort round out our News summary.
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.
Learn more about Thumb Caddy, the simple way to get a grip on your game!
Photo Credit: © USAToday.com, Alex Brandon, AP, LifeintheTrap.com - European Tour Shanghai's PGA Tour golfers on road to Dubai. Mickelson swing changes tested at HSBC and Thumb Caddy training aid (11mb)
Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:21:14 -0600 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
The European Tour is sending a message to PGA Tour players, loud and clear, that a new era in golf is beginning with the 2009 season.
A new spruced-up tour, in which the European Order of Merit has been replaced with "The Race to Dubai" offers a $10 million pie at the end of the season with another shared purse after the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
Phil Mickelson may be defending this week at the first stop on the Euro Tour, the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, but guys like Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas are ready to pounce. Villegas, for example, is not content to just play, he's "definitely going there to win." Mickelson, on the other hand, is hoping that swing changes he has been working on since 2007 will finally take effect. We discuss a few of these swing changes in this week's show.
With players like Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott working towards another FedEx Cup-like purse on the European Tour, how soon will it be before golfers like Anthony Kim "jump ship" entirely and shift alliances? Or, perhaps one day, the PGA Tour might be forced to "merge" with the European Tour forming one huge conglomerate. Then there would be no more "off-season", no more "silly season" and viewers would be able to watch their favorite golfers throughout the year!
As Garcia noted, "Some of the tournaments we play in the Middle East ... are bigger than the ones they play in the U.S. You get good players there, so world rankings points increase. At the end of the day, that's what the big players do it for."
Of course, if Tiger Woods has any input, his new golf course in Dubai might just host one of these events. Woods' foray into golf course design is yielding several new courses, possibly with a consideration towards building his own "mini-tour". It is conceivable that Tiger could one day be "tapped" as the head of this global Tour...perhaps aptly named the World Tour! Who knows...stranger things have happened!
We also review Thumb Caddy, an inexpensive training aid which helps keep hands in their proper position throughout the golf swing.
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@worldgolf.com.
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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by Premier Golf, 888-439-1831.
Photo Credit: © OverseasPropertyMall.com - Sorenstam, Inkster see future of LPGA in fortune cookie. Also, Your golf swing could hinge on these tips (11mb)
Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:44:14 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
China, food for thought?
In addition to keeping up with Russia and the U.S.A. with a newly developed missile system, China is also intent upon improving their visibility in the golf world and proving, as Annika Sorenstam said, that the LPGA is becoming a "global tour".
Shanshan Feng, the only Chinese player on the LPGA Tour (so far) believes that, "China can become another Korea for golf. I believe so. Maybe not now but in the future." In order to familiarize China as a golf destination, Feng, in the final round this week, even wore a shirt with a red China map on it.
Go China! The Empire is alive and well. The force is definitely with them.
Don't underestimate the growth of golf in Korea and Japan either, two countries who are hosting the 'triple-play' of this month's venture into Asian territory. This past week, out of a sixty-three player field, two-thirds were of Asian descent with over fifty of the ladies appearing in the upper crust of the LPGA money list.
What does this mean for the LPGA Tour? Juli Inkster contends that, instead of forcing the girls to learn English (as was the intent of Ms.Bivens) and suspending them if they did not, perhaps a more subtle approach is needed.
Inkster's thought is that an experienced golfer should play in their foursome to show them how it's done. As the seasoned veteran mentioned, "If I get four Korean men in this pro-am, even though I don't speak their language, I'm going to make it fun for them."
And fun is the name of the game as Sorenstam learned during the pro-am. Even though an interviewer mentioned the men were "depressed" over the way Sorenstam hit the ball longer and straighter than they did, she managed to do what is done in every part of the world when it comes to golf...create business opportunites for herself on the course. Annika shared some of her "secrets" with the guys (one a big developer stated Sorenstam) in a possible exchange for the opportunity to build a course in Asian territory. As Annika divulged, she "was trying to throw my name into the pool, and we'll see."
Only time will tell if this will be good for the LPGA Tour. If sponsorships favor Asian interests, Korea, China and Japan could very well form their own mini-tour taking both American and Asian hopefuls with them by making purses more attractive and keeping the LPGA out of the loop.
The European Tour is starting to offer bigger prize money right now and PGA Tour stars like Phil Mickelson are gung-ho at the prospect. Only time will tell.
All I can say is thank goodness Michelle Wie is both Korean and American! She may keep the LPGA alive!
Golf for Beginners also gives sound advice about one of the most important parts of your swing, the wrist hinge.
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Check us out on MySpace!
"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages, 1-866-444-0992.
Photo Credit: © Seoul Sisters - Dramatic Vistas make Black Mesa Golf Course and Santa Fe, New Mexico, truly a Land of Enchantment (12mb)
Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:21:06 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
Sprawling mountain views surrounded Barry and myself as soon as we departed Albuquerque airport for a week-long golf vacation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The closest we had been to seeing vistas like this was when we travelled through Red Rock Canyon in Nevada over fifteen years ago, as a side trip to Las Vegas.
The thin air first caught my attention as I climbed the stairs to our 'casita' in the newly opened Encantado Resort, a member of the Auberge family of upscale properties. The 'room' in which we stayed had the same effect as the altitude. Approximately seven-hundred square feet of comfort and cool Santa Fe style surrounded our senses, from the wood-burning fireplace to the original artwork on the walls, all welcoming us to take off our shoes and relax awhile. From the casita, we toured the Resort only to find the same upscale luxury throughout, from the Spa to the Lodge, with incomparable views and luxurious amenities.
During the week we were slated to play both Black Mesa and Paa-ko Ridge Golf Courses. An early snowfall closed Paa-ko Ridge to golfers (there were still a few stragglers in the dining room praying for a miracle) so we were a bit disappointed not to be able to play one of GolfDigest.com's Reader's choice awards for 2009.
Instead, we had two prime days of golf at Black Mesa Golf Club, and I'm glad we did as once just wasn't enough in order to appreciate the creative masterpiece of Baxter Spann. "Each hole could have easily been a signature hole," Barry mentioned, and that a comprehensive strategy is needed for each dramatic layout. Success at putting is a must: tricky greens and undulating fairways force you to decide where you want to place the ball.
Black Mesa is definitely not for beginners but the option of five different teeboxes allows a golfer to visualize the course from different angles making it worthy of several rounds of play. Stand at the tips, bring a camera and enjoy views of the Rio Grande!
I wanted a true Santa Fe experience and found one while dining at a charming, ninety-year-old retreat; Bishop's Lodge. The food was superb and the staff gave us a tour of the property which includes a spa, skeet/trap range and, I understand, a stable filled with Palominos. Only about five minutes to town, I would certainly consider this Resort for our next stay!
During our vacation we did everything from making our contribution to the newest Casino complex, Buffalo Thunder, to watching buffalo roam and tumbleweeds roll, all while being surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo mountains. We played golf at a course that you can never tire of and I even got an on-course lesson from Tom Velarde, Director of Instruction at Black Mesa. Brian Whitcomb, PGA of America President also agrees as he recently stated, "The truth is that golf in New Mexico is a gem." The 42nd PGA Professional National Championship is set to take place at Twin Warriors and Santa Ana Golf Clubs and will be televised by the Golf Channel.
New Mexico is unique destination that travelers should see at least once in their lives. I now understand why it is called the Land of Enchantment!
This week's Golf for Beginners show talks about why you should visit Santa Fe, NM at least once and offers tips from our rounds as well as from Black Mesa's Director of Instruction Tom Velarde. We also have plenty of pictures to show of Black Mesa ... click here for front nine and back nine and of our trip. Enjoy!
Note: If you cannot see the photos, just head over to the MySpace page below and locate 'pics' under my lead picture.
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages, 1-866-444-0992. - Tiger Woods rebuilding Mexico for blue-bloods and thinking outside the tee box (10mb)
Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:47:03 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
Please don't say that Tiger Woods is becoming an elitist!
I always thought that Woods' upbringing was middle-class Cablinasian , entering the sport at a bit of a disadvantage but now it appears to me as if Tiger Woods is becoming one of them...that is, corporate, blue-blooded American. Even his name, Tiger, seems much more of a terrific marketing ploy than Eldrick, a name in which his father tagged him after being saved by a South Vietnamese soldier during the war.
Woods believes, before even building his new golf course in Punta Brava, that it will rival Pebble Beach! Nattily clad at a press conference at the Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles, CA, Tiger said, "When you get to No 12 it is similar to No 8 at Pebble Beach."
Ah but there IS a difference between Pebble Beach and Punta Brava, dear Tiger. Pebble Beach, although woefully expensive to tee off from, is public and Punta Brava will be private and, as Woods mentioned, "safe".
Perhaps Woods is building up his new course as a way of building his high-end brand (as Tim McDonald believes)?
As anal as he is with his golf game, so is he with his golf course. Tiger Woods "walked three and a half hours on site and had to have surgery the next day," mentioned Brady Oman, Flagship Group co-founder and one business partner in the deal.
Another surgery? Maybe el Tigre is tired of playing the game and is now resorting to, well, resorts? Despite a slumping economy, there are still plenty of wealthy individuals who would pay upward of $3 million dollars for a plot of land where Tiger plans to settle himself. Although Woods is 'mum' on his return, he has mentioned that he won't be 100% until 2010!
Golf for Beginners also offers plenty of golf tips this week in addition to the Tiger Talk. We discuss offbeat and peculiar ways to get to the green. Do you always have to sink a birdie putt with a putter?
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free! and check us out on MySpace!
"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by Premier Golf, 888-439-1831.
Photo Credit: © PETT
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader - Lexington, United States - How to Choke like Anthony Kim. Tiger Woods, Natalie Gulbis in the news and you can lose but you're not a loser (11mb)
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:42:21 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
Since Anthony Kim is now being heralded as one of the rising young stars of the PGA Tour (and this weekend with a third place finish at the Korea Open), it seems befitting that we spend some time examining the reasons behind his choked down golf grip. The obvious intent is to improve upon basic contact but it's also a way to establish better control over all of your shots.
Kim's grip even caught the eye of announcer Johnny Miller who made this assessment. "If you grip down, you don't get the club stuck behind you. Your body can move much faster." Miller went on to say, "It's probably something that could help Tiger, who tends to have that problem. But if you don't have that kind of arm and body speed, you're not going to hit it so far gripping down like that."
Whereas some golfers prefer to use this grip at all times and sacrifice a bit of distance, Butch Harmon, for example, mentions that it would behoove most amateurs to follow suit with all golf shots from 130 yards and in!
Even though you might feel your shots are going to be shorter, crisp contact between the golf club and the ball will often nullify the effects of a shorter shot. Just remember to never change the tempo of your swing but, instead, follow this "choke-chart" to determine how to best utilize this golf tip, taking it to the range before using it on the golf course!
This week, Golf for Beginners podcast discusses the benefit of the choke shot and how you can get the most out of it. We also talk about my participation in the Paper Cup, an EWGA annual best-ball team match play event. While Paula Creamer was busy making waves at the Samsung Tournament, I was struggling with my partner to strategize, losing our match with four holes to play! Not very good golf for either of us!
Although the event coordinator purchased "winner" and "loser" shirts, I questioned the idea between being a "loser" and losing a match. Naturally, I refused to wear the shirt.
Finally, we dig deep into the internet and find some interesting news on both Tiger Woods and Natalie Gulbis.
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free! and check us out on MySpace!
"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.
Photo Credit: © Streeter Lecka/Getty Images . - Miller sends Tiger Woods a "Dear John" letter. Aging Mickelson falls prey to Villegas, Kim. Nicklaus hits it big with Performance 18 (10mb)
Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:54:25 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
Golf Analyst Johnny Miller maintains that Tiger Woods was not missed at either the Tour Championship or the Ryder Cup. He has even gone so far as to blame Woods for Team USA's problematic history. I can understand Miller's Ryder Cup theory as Tiger Woods has rarely been known to be a team player but, taking his idea a step further, would the PGA Tour be better off with, or without Woods?
It's true that some of Miller's off-the-cuff commentary can be a bit absurd (Mediate "looks like the guy who cleans Tiger?s swimming pool, for example") but after watching up-and-coming flamboyant and charismatic young guns Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas excite the crowd time and time again, some of Miller's musings are believable.
I disagree, however, that age played a factor with Mickelson, ever the punching bag, who was beaten over the head for being thirty-eight years old. Age is not the reason why Phil could not make putts, and I'm sure that V.J. Singh would concur with that fact.
Johnny Miller, whose ramblings are worthy of note (that's why he's a commentator), should aspire to change the FedEx Cup points distribution system. Under the close circumstances in which both Singh and Villegas came to their eventual respective positions, perhaps a play-off would have been in order to create that end-of-season fervor that the PGA Tour, and the fans, are desperately looking for?
In addition to our commentary about the Tour Championship and both Mickelson and Garcia's inability to win in the face of challenge, we also offer our experiences while wearing Jack Nicklaus Performance 18 apparel at Turning Stone Resort. Performance 18 offers Coolplus® technology, UV protection, is fashionable and lightweight and had me feeling so stylish and comfortable that I felt as if I was on the LPGA Tour!
A golf tip on how to hit a 460cc driver is also featured. With clubheads as large as garbage cans, it shouldn't be that difficult, should it?
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free! and check us out on MySpace!
"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by Premier Golf, 888-439-1831.
Photo Credit: © Outside the Beltway. - Furyk Clinches Ryder Cup for USA, Mickelson disappoints and Wie advances. Golf Magazine's "How to Hit Every Shot" (12mb)
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:58:15 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
It was hard not to notice the dejected expression in the eyes of Anthony Kim on Saturday after his teammate, Phil Mickelson, blew his putt on the seventeenth hole to lose to Stenson and Wilson. Kim's outstretched hand failed to find Mickelson's even though earlier pairings found the team of Kim/Mickelson to be a solid one.
Kim's victory against Garcia on Sunday proved that it was Mickelson who was the taildragger for Team USA. I understand that Phil is interested in obtaining his European Tour card. I say, let's trade Lefty to Team Europe in 2010 for Justin Rose!
By the way, since July, Mickelson's estate has been up for sale. A sign of things to come? Golf has been very, very good to me!
Jim Furyk impressed the crowd although, if I was Jimenez, I don't think I would have given him that final three-footer for the win.
In addition to our Ryder Cup wrap-up, Golf for Beginners also discusses the new book from Golf Magazine entitled, "How to Hit Every Shot." This glossy is a follow-up to their top-selling title, GOLF: The Best Instruction Book Ever!, and offers assistance for difficult shots with the aid of the Top 100 Instructors. The "restricted backswing" tip, for example, is one you probably have never even heard of and is worth a try!
Finally, we talk about current and future stars of the LPGA Tour, Anna Rawson and Michelle Wie. Where Wie didn't stand out from the crowd of female golfers this week she certainly did what was necessary to get the job done and move on to Q-School finals.
Move over Natalie Gulbis! With her rookie year on the LPGA Tour less eventful than her status of being one of the "Sexiest Women Golfers","Anna Rawson should probably be more interested in stardom than golf. Instead of relying on her golf swing, and with only $50k made from the Tour, Rawson has been setting herself up in the world of fashion, as a golf writer and now has made it possible to hear from all of those swooning fans who pant when they see her in a bikini!
We reveal her cell phone number on this week's show and let you know which other stars want to hear what is on your mind!
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free! and check us out on MySpace!
"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.
Photo Credit: © Fred Vuich/SI. - Turning Stone invites you to be their next champion. Steve Flesch tells us how to count your way to perfect rhythm (13mb)
Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:35:33 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
The drive up to Turning Stone Resort and Casino in upstate New York was definitely part of the adventure during our only weekend away this summer. There were farms and cows everywhere and both Barry and I felt the history of the area as we passed through the bucolic countryside.
Who would have ever imagined such beauty existed outside of the confines of the City? But, once I heard that Turning Stone Resort is one of the top-five tourist destinations in the entire State, I could understand why!
The Oneida Indian Nation opened Turning Stone in 1993 and has been awarded numerous accolades including a AAA Four Diamond rating as well as a Condé Nast Johansens 2007 Award For Excellence in the ?Most Excellent Resort? category. One of only four resorts in America have been nominated for that award!
The golf courses are challenging and immaculately maintained. Although we wouldn't suggest Kaluhyat as the first course you play during your stay because of its level of difficulty, there are several options available like the par-three, Rick Smith designed Sandstone Hollow which will fine-tune your game for Shenendoah and Atunyote.
During our stay we met Steve Flesch, last year's winner of the upcoming Turning Stone Resort Championship. Although he was prepared to stand at the dreaded par-three eleventh hole at Atunyote and hit our shot for us, it rained and we were given a clinic instead (I wonder if I could have gotten my shot closer to the hole?). I even whacked a few golf balls for Flesch and he gave me his honest opinion on my golf swing, which you can hear on our broadcast!
Turning Stone Resort and Casino should be savored like a fine wine. The restaurants range from quick eats to fine dining and each dish is carefully and lovingly prepared. Although I didn't visit Skana Spa on this visit, I can still smell the Lavender (you'll know what I mean after one treatment). We also made our small donation to the Casino...you can't win them all!
The area is rich in history and, if we had more time there I would have loved to explore or even signed us up for a romantic balloon ride!
Turning Stone Resort offers the "Be Our Next Champion" package as well as an inexpensive stayover to watch the Turning Stone Resort Championship, October 2-5. With one of the biggest purses after Fed Ex Cup mayhem, this will surely be a tournament to watch!
Reach Turning Stone Resort and Casino on the web or call: 800.771.7711.
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Get to know us on MySpace!
"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by Premier Golf, 888-439-1831. - Jim Furyk may not sweat the Ryder Cup thanks to his new fashion line (9mb)
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:56:38 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
I met up with Jim Furyk at a photo shoot for the launch of the golf clothing collection from New York clothier Hawke and Co., and received an education on the differences between cotton and moisture-wicking polyester. I also learned how this upscale company's products distinguish themselves from typical "off the rack" golf apparel right down to the subleties of the hawk symbolically stitched into every shirt and the recurrent colors of brown and orange which help golfers distinguish this clothing from the average lineup.
Furyk, who recently signed a long term sponsorship deal with the contemporary outerwear and sportswear maker, gave me his preferences on the performance-oriented collection.
Heat exhaustion before Hawke and Co.?
We also had a chance to talk about the upcoming Ryder Cup as well as whom Furyk would choose as his compadres if he was captain instead of Azinger. Tiger Woods came up in conversation as Azinger mentioned early on that Team USA were considered "underdogs" without the world's number-one in the mix. Considering the Americans have lost the past three Ryder Cup competitions, Tiger Woods' absence just might spur on a sense of unity among the beleaguered Americans.
Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia's names were also tossed around because of their stellar performance at the 2004 Ryder Cup where between the two of them, they scored an amazing 8.5 points!
Furyk's practice schedule was also discussed, where he's tuning up and golf tips were offered up for all of the amateurs out there.
For golf tips from one of the best golf instructors in the world, check out our recent interview with Tiger Woods coach, Hank Haney!
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by St. Andrews Golf Tours, 800-348-4902.
Photo Credit: © BBC Sport. - Hank Haney talks Tiger Woods, gives easy golf tips in our one-on-one interview (11mb)
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:52:40 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
Imagine Tiger Woods' instructor, Hank Haney, standing right in front of you, offering you advice on your golf game. That is exactly what happened to me at Chelsea Piers in New York in an event held in conjunction with The First Tee and FedEx.
Okay, so Mr. Haney didn't help only me that day, his main focus was on the hundred or so kids that belong to the New York Metropolitan Chapter where he mentioned, "What could be better than to help the best player in the world and to help kids?"
The few minutes that I taped with Mr. Haney is literally a gold-mine of information which will definitely assist both the beginner and advanced amateur golfer. And yes, there is even some commentary on Tiger Woods, his philosophy and how he's faring during his forced rest.
Thanks to Mr. Haney for helping me with my game. Barry even learned a few things from my interview! And why not? Even Tiger Woods has a coach to assist him with his game and he's the greatest golfer on the planet.
Also, thanks to the First Tee Program and FedEd for the invite.
Click here to listen to my interview with Hank Haney.
Next week, an interview with Jim Furyk!
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Get to know us on MySpace!
"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.
Photo Credit: © Lohud.com - Outdoor apparel that's great for golf and tips for pace of play (and other reminders) (9mb)
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:28:43 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
"The problem is up ahead about two or three groups," is the usual canned reply from the golf course ranger as our foursome is eagerly waiting to tee off. Patience is supposed to be a virtue but completing a round in over five hours is just ridiculous!
We all know that the publinks are generally known for slow play and other etiquette faux pas so Barry and I, with help from the National Golf Foundation, have made it a point this week to assist both newer golfers and those duffers who have forgotten the basic niceties of the game.
"Baby, it's hot outside!" With the 'dog days' of summer in full swing, golf apparel has to wick moisture while keeping the body cool as well as feel featherweight as you swing your golf club. Royal Robbins has taken outdoor wear to the extreme, incorporating UPF40 into their clothing as well as adding ventilation to assure a gentle breeze at your back. Climbing pioneers Royal and Liz founded this company over thirty years ago "to enhance the lives of their customers and make the world a better place through comfortable, rugged clothing that fits well and looks great." In addition to garments keeping you cool and dry, remember to drink plenty of water, find shade where ever you can and make sure to use sunscreen!
Do you really want to feel like this during a round of golf?
Finally, be sure to check out my upcoming interviews with both Hank Haney and Jim Furyk. Fans will appreciate the great golf tips and Jim Furyk will even give us some of his strategy for defeating Harrington and Garcia for the coveted Ryder Cup!
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Check us out on MySpace!
"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by MyrtleBeachGolf.com, 866-409-2177.
Photo Credit: © New York Times - Harrington calls out Tiger Woods: I deserve to win! Also, align yourself like the pros and how to be a Patriot on Labor Day (10mb)
Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:59:40 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
With a rousing finish at the 90th PGA Championship, Padraig Harrington confirmed that he can mix it up with the best golfers in the world, not solely on the European Tour. One may claim that a single major might have been a fluke but two in a row and three wins in the last six events prove that Harrington is really on to something! Perhaps Ben Hogan's "secret" has something to do with it, mentioned Harrington's instructor, Bob Torrance.
Poor Sergio floundered once again. At the 2007 British Open, both Harrington and Garcia choked their way through the final holes with the Irishman taking control at the 17th to win. Similar circumstances occured this week as Garcia's ball found the water leaving the door open for Harrington to finish the job. The PGA Championship was obtained much the same way as in his 2008 British Open rally against Norman. The intense stare, taking advantage when he saw Sergio floundering were intentional, with Harrington telling himself that he deserved to win.
Padraig Harrington knows that he can defeat Sergio Garcia when the pressure is on but how will he do against Tiger Woods when the world's number-one returns injury free?
Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune believes that Harrington's performance this year is deserving of the "Player of the Year" award. Randall Mell of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Harrington, 36, has stepped forcefully into the vacuum created when Tiger Woods was sidelined for the season...and has done so with fierce closing skills under intense final-round major championship pressure."
This week Golf for Beginners discusses what seems to make Harrington unbeatable when the pressure is on. A golf tip from Jim Flick on proper alignment is also featured.
Information on Ireland's golf courses and Patriot Golf Day are also covered on this week's broadcast.
Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.
Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!
Check us out on MySpace!
"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"
This podcast is supported by St. Andrews Golf Tours 800-348-4902
Photo Credit: © STLToday.com. - No stopping Asian invasion on LPGA Tour believe Inkster, Ochoa. Also, look down go down and turn bad shots into new opportunities (11mb)
Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:35:22 -0500 Author: golfforbeginners@aol.com (Stacy and Barry Solomon)Click here to listen.
Golfers Lorena Ochoa and Juli Inkster are struggling to keep up with the influx of hard-hitting Asian women entering the LPGA Tour. Players from Japan, Taiwan and South Korea flooded the top of the Ricoh Women's British Open leaderboard this weekend with only one American, Cristie Kerr, noticeable in a high-ranking position.
There were always foreigners ensconced in the LPGA Tour. Many of the ladies play amateur golf here while attending school. So what's all the fuss about Asians sharing the spotlight?
Well, for one thing, a bogey-free round with six birdies is a tough act to follow. Even number-one seed, Lorena Ochoa, is starting to worry. "Now we can see that the Asian Tour is becoming very strong," Ochoa mentioned. "The top players are coming to the States and they can also win in the States. Before it was a different story."
Mexico's Ochoa was the "Lady of the Lake" at the Kraft Nabisco, Taiwan's Yani Tseng grabbed the LPGA Championship, Korea's Inbee Park took the U.S. Women's Open and now Ji-Yai Shin, also from Korea, easily won the British Open. Where are all of the American hopefuls?
Juli Inkster is double the age of some of the latest LPGA entrants and is feeling the heat. Although she led the Open in the first round, the American slid behind ninth place finishers, Creamer and Gulbis, on Sunday. "They're all coming," Inkster noticed. "And it's not stopping either."
With Annika Sorenstam stepping down, could Inkster be far behind? Furthermore, is this "new era" helping or hurting the LPGA Tour's television presence? With venues in jeopardy for the 2009 season, perhaps the LPGA should be looking towards Suzuki, Toyota or Honda for an influx of much needed revenue.
Dave Hollander believes that the advent of the 'Wilhelmina 7' will add much needed "exposure" to the floundering Tour. Adding an Asian golfer to the lineup could successfully incorporate these women into the fold while introducing them as a viable asset to the Tour.
Ji-Yai Shin, ranked number one on the KLPGA, originally planned her future in Japan but just received an invite to join the LPGA Tour. "I want to play here, because very big tournaments...and great players,'' she said. "Yeah, I want to play here."
In addition to a discussion on the influx of Asian golfers on the LPGA Tour, Golf for Beginner
